Creating Access and Inclusion in Worship

INCLUSION AWARENESS DAY ACTIVITIES

Listed below are ideas for your Inclusion Awareness Day event. Use the materials in this workbook to plan your parish celebration.

• With the approval of your pastor, designate the weekend of October 11 as Inclusion Awareness Day or select an alternate date this fall.
• Plan liturgies that focus on the gospel message of inclusion (see pp. 13- 17). Ask homilists to preach about Blessed Damien de Veuster and inclusion (see pp. 14-16). Invite a parishioner to give a Communion reflection about what inclusion at your parish means to them.
• Plan an Inclusion Awareness Day reception after masses with children?s activities that communicate welcome and inclusion for all. See I Am ?Thumb? Body and the paper doll activity in this workbook. Invite your youth group to assist (see pp. 18-20).
• Place articles in your bulletin about Inclusion Awareness Day. See the sample bulletin articles, How You Can Make a Difference and quotes from The Vulnerable Journey by Father Henri Nouwen in this workbook (see pp. 6-11).
• Print and cut apart the Inclusion Awareness Day prayer card available at www.inclusioninworship.org. Distribute on Inclusion Awareness Day.
• Send out a press release to local media outlets to publicize your Inclusion Awareness Day events. See sample press release in this workbook.